THE PRICE OF MEAT

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 522, 1 June 1909, Page 10

THE PRICE OF MEAT

DOES BUTCHERING PAY. GISBORNE FIGURES. Butchers' profits wer6 displayed in a strong light before , the Gisborno Borough Council at a recent meeting. Councillor Dr. Collins stated, that tho profits of one Gisborno butcher .were estimated to have been £222 per month, and tho net profit for all tho Gisborno butchers' (there aro' nine of • thom) was £1450 per month. Thus, apparently, the'nine (iisborno" b.utchers make an average profit of. over £1900 per annum each. l)r. Collins's calculations wore founded on tho numbers .of beasts slaughtered fol the various butchers at the abattoirs) and on tho prices current for live stock, and for joints of meat. : Ho estimates the profit made on i) b,ullock, of 8001b. dead-weight, at £6 2s. 6d., including in his calculation the following figures:—: ,8001b. beef, bought at 16s.'per 1001b,-£6 Bs.; cost of killing, 6s. 6d.; depreciation, £1 14s. Bd. 8001b. meat, retailed at 4d. por lb. (£l3 6s. fid.): hide, £1; fat (601b. at Id. per lb.), 55.; 2001b. bone, £1 14s. ,Bd. The profit on a sheep is set out as follows : Cost.—Ewe, 601b., Bs.; for killing, Is 3d.; depreciation and loss,'covered by offal, heads, kidneys, etc.; total, 9s. 3d. Retail Receipts: 601b., .at 4d., £1; skin, 2s. 9d.; fat, -Is.; total, £1 3s. 3d. Profit on one sheep, 14s. 6d. v . <

In his statement, Mr.' Collins gave details of .the amount of .meat killed for each of tho nine butchers, and jestimated their profits on the basis of tho figures above quoted. The profits of the nine butchers for ono month, after deduction of. expenses and bad debts, were estimated to be, respectively, £222 10s., £169, £253, £177 4s. 6a.,-£177 95., £88 155., £183 6s. 6d„ £141 65.. £37 7s. 6d." The total profit , on the' month s meat was estimated as follows, on the figures available as to tho quantity sold in the town:— ■': . . , ' / £ s. d. 242 cattle, at £6 2s. 6d. profit... 1482 5 0 1034 sheep, at 14s. 6d. profit ... 749 13 0 101 lambs, at 75.. profit... 1 ... ■35"7 0 9 calves, at 255. profit ... .... 11 5 0 Total ... ' ... 2278 10 0 'Less , working. expenses, etc., . 827 12 1 0 Profit for one month ... 1450 18 0 : "Even (says the : doctor) . if we allowed double tho amount for expenses, there would still be shown an individual profit of £70 a month to each butcher." He estimates tho yield of beef, per carcass, weighing 5201b., as follows: — ' , '' Hindquarters. 'Rumps ■, ... ... ... .... 481b. Sirloin ... .... ... 721b.. Silverside ... ~ ... , ... 401b. , Thick : flank; ... ' ...' : ... - ... . 201b. ; Top side ... ... ... 281b. ; 'l'hin fiank ... . .... . ... " ••• 141b. Shins . ...' . ... ... 241b. . . ■ " . ' . 2641b. : i Forequartcrs. ; " Ribs ... . ... . : ... — 801b. Shouder ... . ... , 601b. Skin ... ... ... . ... "lb. Clods ... ... ... :». ... Wb-'-.Brisket ... ... ■■•••.'.. ■••• 241b. , Neck. ... ... •: ... ... ... : 721b. 2641b. . ! Total meat sold per carcass, 5101b. ; Dr. iCollms' adds: "There is only 241b. bono not sold in hindquarter, and only : 371b. not sold in forequarter. Sheep last year cost _£1 (hide worth .'7s.), and this year' ss. (hide worth:2s. 0d:)." 1 Tho "Gisborno Times," in commenting on tho big profits, shown,'sayS: "There must be a mistako ill the statement, otherwise our butchers , would all V be' ablo .to retire .on ■ a large income after .a few years in the trade, whereas we know, as a matter of fact, that they lead a particularly stronuoue and only in raro instances are able ,to retire in | old ago. J . . Wo . have. no'doubt' that' tha ' butchers will,be.ablo to successfully challenga j tho doctor's figures in,several. directions.